Page 104 of Protecting Christina

“Please speak closer to the microphone so we can hear you.”

She leaned forward. “Yes.”

“How much money were you paid in the first month?”

“Four thousand dollars.”

“Wow, that’s quite a sum for simply lying on your back.”

I wanted to scream, Objection!, but I bit my tongue and swung my crossed leg back and forth to release my pent-up energy.

“Simon made more than eight for doing absolutely nothing,” my sister replied.

Yes! I hissed in my head, but while I controlled my tongue, I couldn’t help my smile.

The attorney was taken aback by her quick retort, but recovered quickly. “I wouldn’t call arranging the business nothing.”

“I would.”

The attorney frowned and turned to the judge. “Can you please instruct the witness to only answer the questions I pose?”

“Perhaps you may want to try a different line of questioning, Mr. Freeman. It sounds to me like she is answering your questions.”

The attorney exhaled and tried to look offended, but I read the anger on his face.

Good. Donna was getting to him.

“Who paid for your meals and clothing, Ms. Polito? Was it not my client?”

“Yes. But only because he never allowed me to leave the house.”

“Your honor! She can only answer the questions I ask, and not anything else.”

I smirked at his little outburst and looked at the jury. Some shook their hands at Simon, and a woman nodded and smiled at Donna.

I inhaled and exhaled slowly, realizing that the trial was finally turning around.

“I am finished with this witness, your honor. She can go.”

“I will remind you, Mr. Freeman, that I’m the one who dismisses witnesses, not you.”

“My apologies, your honor.”

“You are free to leave, Ms. Polito.”

“Your honor, before she leaves, I have one more question to ask Ms. Polito,” said the prosecutor.

“Go ahead.”

The prosecutor stood up. “Ms. Polito, did Mr. Graff try to kill you?”

“Objection!” cried Simon’s attorney. “Ms. Polito was in the basement when the incident occurred. She could not possibly testify as to my client’s intention. She saw nothing.”

“That’s because he had locked her under the floorboards, not the basement, your honor.”

The attorney turned to the prosecutor. “You are trying to admit evidence into this trial that we agreed wasn’t admissible.”

“I am not, your honor. However, since Mr. Freeman pointed out that Ms. Polito had not seen Mr. Graff commit the crime, he opened the door for me. As such, I would like to call another witness to the stand. Mr. William Nash.”

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